The fantastic winning team visited us at GRACE a couple of times. They said hearing first hand the lived experience of GRACE members gave them an appreciation for what the charity does and an enthusiasm to do us proud in their presentation. They particularly loved hearing the laughter coming from the art therapy group in the next room.
The YPI programme has been fantastic for all concerned. The young people had the experience of learning outside of the classroom and taking the initiative with their presentation, not to mention the dreaded public speaking, and GRACE won a team of brilliant young ambassadors.
Thank you to the students, their teachers, the panel of judges and the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative for bringing us together so successfully.
The Sunday Herald newspaper mentioned this amazing achievement and published a poem written by one of the students. Very well done to all involved.
Depression trauma anxiety
When will it end?
My pit of a life is fiery
My happiness I pretend
I’m running and running
What am I becoming?
This life that I live
With no light to give
Where can I go?
I bottle it up so I don’t feel it anymore
But I get duller and duller, life is just a closed door
I stumble upon a place that feels like home
But I was scared and I felt so alone
But the kindness like a family
Doesn’t come so often
This place called GRACE
Made my dull feelings soften
I’m happy for once in what feels like a lifetime
And GRACE is my home, my friends
I found them at the right time
